Michigan Wolverines

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After a season in which the Michigan basketball team won a share of the Big Ten title, the Wolverines' end-of-season banquet entitled a "celebration" seemed just that. It was jovial and lighthearted, jokes were made and shots were taken at teammates.

Even Michigan basketball coach John Beilein got in on the action.

While introducing each class he picked on juniors Matt Vogrich and Blake McLimans, telling the crowd both needed to get a hair cut. Later, he looked over at Vogrich and asked, "Have I really never started you? I must not know what I'm doing."

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

The Michigan basketball roster had a major overhaul Wednesday afternoon when sophomores Evan Smotrycz and Colton Christian along with freshman Carlton Brundidge decided to transfer.

This is a big shift for a program that had been trending upward the past few seasons. It loses a former starter in Smotrycz and someone who was looked at as a likely backup point guard to Trey Burke in Brundidge.

It also leaves Michigan with more holes to fill than it had 24 hours ago. Here's the immediate aftermath:

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

It was two co-Big Ten Champions going at it after a season in which they split games. But in Indianapolis on Saturday, as Ohio State dominated in a 77-55 win over Michigan, the Wolverines didn't look the part.

Unlike the night before when Michigan came out slow against Minnesota and trailed by as many as nine points before clawing its way back, there would be no semblance of a comeback for the Wolverines.

Besides ending the Wolverines back to Ann Arbor, the loss could affect Michigan's NCAA seeding. Before the game, ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi had the Wolverines sitting at a 3-seed, but the huge loss could drop the Wolverines to a 4-seed (or worse?) depending on how other conference tournaments shake out.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Even without senior forward Ralph Sampson III the Minnesota basketball team pulled off a pretty surprising overtime upset over Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has had his team going through two-a-days since preparation for the Gophers' regular season finale against Nebraska on March 3. Minnesota did a lot of skill work in that time and it showed as the Gophers looked poised and prepared against the Wildcats.

Northwestern and Michigan run similar looking offenses and so the turnaround for the Gophers won't be too dramatic. But, to avoid the same fate as NU, here are three keys for the Wolverines.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Michigan State enters the Big Ten Tournament with the top seed, despite a two-game losing skid to end its regular season schedule.

While the losses at the end of the season were surprising to say the least, it seemed to exemplify a conference in which on any given night any team (that's right, all you Wildcats and Boilermakers fans) could win.

But here are my predictions for how the Big Ten Tournament goes down in Indianapolis. But I will preface that with the fact that I'm terrible at predictions. With the exception of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, in which I picked all four No. 1 seeds to make it to the Final Four, I've never done well in bracket competitions. So, here goes…

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

It has come down to this for Michigan.

All season long, the Wolverines have discussed trying to win a Big Ten championship, the school’s first since 1985-86. Well, with one day remaining in the regular season, Michigan has a shot at it.

When it plays Penn State this afternoon, it knows the scenario very well. If the Wolverines beat the Nittany Lions in State College, Pa., they then have to wait and see what happens in East Lansing between Michigan State and Ohio State.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein spoke to the media on Friday to discuss all things Michigan basketball. Here are some of the key points he touched on:

• ON JORDAN MORGAN AND EVAN SMOTRYCZ'S INJURIES: Beilein said he wouldn't know too much more until after Saturday's practice. The practice was going to be a light one, and the coach noted that the two would be seeing trainers. Beilein said he hadn't heard that it was anything major or structural to the injuries.
• ON WHETHER HE COULD ROOT FOR OHIO STATE: If the Buckeyes beat Michigan State in East Lansing the Wolverines will earn a share of the Big Ten title. "I don't know if I will be rooting for anyone," Beilein said. "I will be watching the scoreboard. How about that? I'll be watching the scoreboard with great interest."

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein, junior guard Matt Vogrich and redshirt sophomore forward Jordan Morgan met with members of the media on Wednesday to discuss the Wolverines' matchup at Illinois on Thursday. Here are some of the key points they touched on:

BEILEIN:

• ON WHETHER HE STILL THOUGHT THEY'D HAVE A SHOT FOR THE TITLE AFTER SATURDAY: "I didn't think much about it," Beilein said. "I didn't analyze who was playing who and when. I just didn't do it. But I was watching [the Michigan State/Indiana] game last night with interest just to see what would happen."
• ON IF THE TEAM HAS A MENTAL BOOST BECAUSE IT CAN STILL WIN THE TITLE: "Absolutely," Beilein said. "I think it's good. If we hadn't talked about it all year long, about what we try to do at the University of Michigan and win championships, it wouldn't be that big of a point as it is right now. … There will hopefully be some bounce in our step."

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein appeared in the John Beilein radio show Monday night to discuss all things Michigan basketball. Here are some of the key points he touched on:

• ON THE MICHIGAN FANS THIS YEAR: "We've had a home court advantage," Beilein said. "That's why we were 15-1. It wasn't just about the players."
• ON THE SLOW START AGAINST PURDUE: Beilein started by saying that he's not making excuses, but wanted to talk about some of the elements that could've affected his team. He discussed how the adrenaline from pregame festivities for senior day could've affected the team as well as an emotional game against Ohio State a week before. He also talked about the overtime game against Northwestern with a late return time.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Michigan coach John Beilein, senior guard Stu Douglass and redshirt sophomore forward Jordan Morgan met with the media on Monday to discuss their Tuesday night matchup against Northwestern. Here are some of the main points they touched on:

BEILEIN:

• ON THE CHALLENGES OF PLAYING IN EVANSTON: Northwestern has just three losses at home this season (Purdue, Illinois, Baylor). Beilein said it's tough to play there because of Northwestern coach Bill Carmody's style of play and how the Wildcats’ offense constantly evolves. "They throw so many things at you and the speed that they run it at is really interesting," Beilein said.
• ON THE FAST TURNAROUND AFTER THE EMOTIONAL WIN OVER OSU: Beilein said he believes the team is over the Ohio State win and has moved on to the NU game. "Our kids are pretty focused about taking each day as it comes," Beilein said. "When you go on the road to play it's always difficult, especially Northwestern."

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Michigan coach John Beilein and Northwestern coach Bill Carmody called into Monday's Big Ten coaches teleconference. Here are some of the key points the coaches touched on:

BEILEIN:

• WHAT ZACK NOVAK AND STU DOUGLASS HAVE MEANT FOR THE PROGRAM: "I wish I could say I was this accurate with recruiting," Beilein said. "We were just looking for two really solid kids that we could count on, that loved basketball, ran through the doors at Michigan because they wanted to play in the Big Ten. … That's what they proved to be." Beilein referenced Novak and Douglass' work ethics and how that aspect has created a culture at Michigan.
• ON DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NU LAST TIME AND THIS: Beilein said John Shurna as a 5-man changes Northwestern a bit, but that he's very impressed with their statistics this year, noting Northwestern's field goal percentages and 3-point field goal percentages are up.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider